A campaign has been launched to stop 1,400 homes being built on a golf course.

Boysnope Park, off Liverpool Road, Irlam , opened in 1997 and is now a highly-regarded 18-hole course with 300 members, and a popular clubhouse which serves food.

The 130 acres were converted from agricultural land by a local farming family. The Stringer family sold the land to Peel in 2011 but then leased it back and have continued to run the golf club.

Peel have now activated a clause to end the ten-year lease deal. This means the lease will not be renewed and the club could close in summer 2018.

Six local councillors have launched a campaign to save the club and the M.E.N. understands negotiations are ongoing to get the lease extended. It is understood Peel have indicated to the council that a massive housing development could be built on the course.

It’s understood Peel have also indicated they would allow the clubhouse to remain and be run as a restaurant or community facility.

Boysnope Park club house (Image: Manchester Evening News)

A spokesperson for the Stringer family said: “We are a farming family but in the 1990s we had to diversify. The golf club had to work, it was about our livelihoods. We did a lot of research into it, and had to be sure we were doing the right thing. We planted 30,000 trees.

“When we sold the land to Peel we knew their history. We were under no illusions that at sometime in the future they would want to develop the land.”

The family sold the land after five years of negotiations.

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“We had a ten year lease to carry on running the golf club with a back out clause after three years. We thought that while it is in green belt, and an asset for local people it would be OK,” the family spokesperson added.

Irlam councillor, Roger Jones, said: “Peel want to build warehousing on the site due to its closeness to City Airport and Port Salford which is being developed, and 1,400 homes. We think that the golf course should act as a buffer zone of green belt between Irlam and Eccles.

A campaign has been launched to stop 1,400 homes being built on a golf course (Image: Manchester Evening News)

“We have organised a petition and so far nine out ten homes we have visited are against the proposals to build houses. We have canvassed about 1,600 homes.

“Even though the family who run the golf club are having their lease agreement terminated there is no planning permission for the homes or warehouses.

“We expect that Peel may try to shut the golf course in Summer 2018 and then submit a planning application for housing in the next 18 months.”

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A spokesperson for Peel Land and Property said: “Peel is proud of its long-standing association with Salford and the significant economic impact that our investments have had on the City.

"We are pleased to work in close partnership with officers and elected members of Salford City Council. If Cllr Jones has concerns about Boysnope Park Golf Club that he wishes to raise, we’d be happy to discuss them with him.”